Step-ladder.



i, G. MTCHELL,

" mama Apr. f5, 1915.

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Nil

IRA-Cr. Ii'IITCHELL, OI COLORADO.

saine-Lennon.

Speccaton of 'Letters Patent. i

Patented Apr. G, il Eli Application filed .nly l, 1Std. Serial No.851,792.

To au iff/wm t may concern: Be it known that l, ina G. MITCHELL, a

'citizen ofv the :United States, residing at Meeker, in the county ofRio Blanco and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a speciiication,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means forsecuring safety in the use of ladders, and more particularl'y to stepladders. v

It has for its object simplicity and economy in construction, readyattachment .to ladders and ei'ectiveness in use.

ln order that others may know how to make my improved safety device andto appiy the same to ladders and to also-fully appreciate itsadvantages, l willproceed 'todescribe the seme, referring by numerals'tothe accomoanying drawing, in which* llig'nre l is a side elevation of ancrdinary short step ladder equipped with a, part of my safety devices.lq1 ig. 2 is an inside elevation ci one side ci' a 'comparatively long1step ladderyand showing; means auriiliary to that shown in Fig. l., for'securing Fig. 3 is a vertical section onthe line Xf-X, of Fig. 2; andFig. Liis a detail section of the iframe and 'foot shown in Fig. l.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parte inthe several igurcs orthe drawing..-

l represents theA sides oan ordinary step ladder, between and to' whichthe stegis 2 are secured in the usual way. The lower extremity of thesesides are rounded as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, and are located-in a castmetal shoe 3 and pivotally connected vthere- ,withl by an ordinary screwbolt 4 and nut 5.

The bottom or sole of this shoe is prei'erably formed with transversedovetails in which are located leather or ruhher friction pads 6 toprevent any accidental slipping of the shoe, but in lien or" these pads,the sole may be corrugated or .in any other snitable mannerA renderedanti-slipping. The

bracing Jrame or prop 7 is also preferably provided with shoes 3, ofsimilar construction to that already referred to. in the ordinary' stepladders of comparatively short height, l have found that by the use ofriction shoes the ladder will not slip or spread and that if so desired,the ordinary means for preventing the spreading may be di@- penscd`with, although if such mean.: are

employed, the irictionshoes cooperate therewith and add struc'ttae.

ncases of co paratively long orI high ladders, additionlll safety means,such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are employed and in which 8 represents .ametal frame secured by screws 9, to the'inside 1 of the ladder. Thisframe 4is recessed at' the back to receive greatly to the stability ofthe a sliding' block 10 provided with a threaded stem 1l which-projectsthrough, and is slidable within a vertical slot l2, inthei'rame. rihethreaded` stem is secured at its outer end to a block or head 13, inwhich is pivotally located a prop le composed. preterably of metaltubing oi suitable stability, and between this head andthe outer tace ofthe frame v8, are arranged a vWasher or plate 15, and a wing nut 16, thelatter threaded upon the stem, so that the prop may in an obvious mannerhe adjusted to any altitude withreference to the frame and then. se-

curedin fixed relation therewith by means ci the nut 16, when the prophas also been swung to the' desired position. The `free or lower end ofthis prop is preferably provided with a short sleeve 17 threaded to theprop and which is adapted to receive friction pad 1S, but in lien ofthis construction,

the end of the prop may be rendered antislipping in any other desiredmanner For any desired anglo accordingly, as the propv- 14 isyadjusted.'

From what has been described and shown, it will be seen that the majorparts of my and desa'fcty devices can` be cheaply and' quickly made bycasting, and that the other and limited mimh'er of parts, areinexpensive v .and all can he readily "assembled and vdisassembled andthat they may be readily ar?- plied in operative relation with anyordinary step ladder, by simply rounding the bottom extremities of theladder before securing the cast metal shoes thereon.

Having thus described this invention,

whatl claim is The auxiliary bra ce or prop consisting oi a rearwardlyrecessed and verticali).T slotted frame; a block sldable Within therecess of` the frame and provided with a projecting threaded stemextending through the vertical slot and secured to an exterior head orblock; a member pvotaily connected with Said bl'ock or head, and 'meanssurrounding Qthe threaded stem'and between the block or head and theface of the frame. for securing

